OUR VIEW: Give Bloomfield development another chance

Sunday

Oct 20, 2013 at 1:47 PM

A commercial development eyed for downtown Bloomfield seemed like a win-win for the community: A deteriorating gas station would be replaced and a long-vacant piece of property developed under a project that included a building housing fast-food chains.

Sadly, that ambitious plan for the small village by developers Peter and Josh Bruckel, which would have also provided tax revenue and jobs for the community, has been pulled after a group of citizens opposed to the project hired a lawyer to fight it. They apparently werenít crazy about a project they didnít think fit well with the villageís image.

Itís a puzzling move on several fronts. Just how would a modern building with three restaurants and a gas station damage the character of the village? Letís be honest: Downtown Bloomfield isnít exactly filled with a large number of historic buildings, or buildings at all, and the long-vacant piece of land on Route 444 where Agway once stood isnít doing anything to enhance the villageís character, unless you like vacant lots.

Secondly, why the quick exit by the Bruckels? Opposition to commercial and residential developments is common these days, and most developers accept that not everyone is going to put out the red carpet for them. Experienced developers expect it and learn to deal with it. Many residents, tired of looking at the old gas station and the weeds growing at the former Agway site next door, were excited to see a prime piece of land finally redeveloped.

As former Mayor Don Kwarta noted, had the Bruckels moved forward with the plan ó which needed a variance because the square footage exceeded the building size limits in the commercial zone ó†there would have been opportunities to make project modifications that could have appeased residents with concerns. It also might have allowed the many folks who apparently support the development to marshal forces to push for its approval.

Weíre not saying the developers can do anything to assuage project opponents to the degree they would endorse it, but there may been room for compromise. The developers should come back to the table and let the process play out, and village officials should urge them to do so.

With other proposals for the old Agway lot coming and going over the years, Bloomfield shouldnít let†this opportunity slip away.